An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century - California Ocean ...

Box 1.2 The “Fourth Seacoast”—The Great LakesThe Great Lakes system enjoys global prominence, containing some 6.5 quadrillion gallonsof fresh surface water, a full 20 percent of the world’s supply and 95 percent of theUnited States’ supply. Its component parts—the five Great Lakes—are all among the fifteenlargest freshwater lakes in the world. Collectively, the lakes and their connecting channelscomprise the world’s largest body of fresh surface water. They lend not only geographic definitionto the region, but help define the region’s distinctive socioeconomic, cultural, andquality of life attributes, as well.An international resource shared by the United States and Canada, the system encompassessome 95,000 square miles of surface water and a drainage area of almost 200,000square miles. Extending some 2,400 miles from its western-most shores to the Atlantic, thesystem is comparable in length to a trans-Atlantic crossing from the East Coast of the UnitedStates to Europe. Recognized in U.S. federal law as the nation’s “fourth seacoast,” the GreatLakes system includes well over 10,000 miles of coastline. The coastal reaches of all basinjurisdictions are population centers and the locus of intensive and diverse water-dependenteconomic activity. Almost 20 percent of the U.S. population and 40 percent of the Canadianpopulation reside within the basin.the oceans provide an ideal vehicle for global leadership. From international security toocean resource management, education, scientific research, and the development ofocean-related technology, the United States can gain respect by demonstrating exemplarypolicies and achievements at home and seeking to spread positive results through collaborativeefforts around the world.Undermining America’s Ocean and Coastal AssetsHuman ingenuity and ever-improving technology have enabled us to harvest—and significantlyalter—the ocean’s bounty. Our engineering skills have allowed us to redirect thecourse of rivers, deflect the impacts of waves, scoop up huge quantities of fish, and transformempty shorelines into crowded resort communities. Yet the cumulative effects ofthese actions threaten the long-term sustainability of our ocean and coastal resources.Through inattention, lack of information, and irresponsibility, we have depleted fisheries,despoiled recreational areas, degraded water quality, drained wetlands, endangered ourown health, and deprived many of our citizens of jobs. If we are to adopt and implementan effective national ocean policy, we must first understand and acknowledge the full consequencesof failing to take action.Degraded WatersDespite some progress, America’s ocean and coastal ecosystems continue to show signs ofdegradation, thereby compromising human health, damaging the economy, and harmingmarine life. Coastal and ocean water quality is threatened by multiple sources of pollution,including point, nonpoint, and atmospheric sources, vessel pollution, and trashwashed onto beaches and into the ocean. In 2001, 23 percent of the nation’s estuarineareas were impaired for swimming, fishing, and supporting marine species. 23 Meanwhile,pollution could jeopardize the safety of drinking water for millions of people living nearor around the Great Lakes.38 A N O CEAN B LUEPRINT FOR THE 21ST C ENTURY